The Moment Francis Ngannou Left A Reporter Who Tried To Provoke Him 'Mentally Broken'

UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was involved in a bizarre exchange with a reporter during his pre-fight press conference.

Ngannou is set to defend his title against Ciryl Gane on Saturday night and it's a fight that's over four years in the making.

'The Predator' previously trained at the MMA Factory alongside Gane, but left after his relationship with founder Fernand Lopez broke down.

A journalist asked Ngannou about the gym and his response was rather frosty to say the least.

"Have you brainwashed it out of your system? Does the MMA Factory not exist anymore?" Ngannou was asked.

With a puzzled look on his face, the 35-year-old replied: "What do you mean?"

"You don't recall the MMA Factory in your memory anymore," the reporter continues before Ngannou says, "Of course I recall that.

"But now I'm not in the MMA Factory, that's what I mean. Do you get that? Good."

Fans have reacted to the incident and they think the reporter challenging Ngannou has nerves of steel.

One commented: "My man has a death wish trying to provoke Francis."

Another added: "So cringe when people do this to fighters at the press conferences."

A third put: "How do these guys get approved to ask shit?"

While another stated: "People really have to stop antagonising fighters at the press conferences."

Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic to become heavyweight champion in March but hasn't fought since.

It saw UFC president Dana White book an interim title fight between Gane and Derrick Lewis in August.

Ngannou has been desperate to fight Jon Jones in 'Bones' first-ever fight at heavyweight.

But White is refusing to book the fight and put Gane against Lewis in the main event of UFC 265.

Gane became interim heavyweight champion after defeating Lewis via TKO.

White was asked if the winner of Saturday's showdown in Anaheim could face Jones next and he wasn't optimistic.

“I don’t feel confident saying that Jon Jones is next,” White told ESPN.

"Not because I think he’s unreliable, it’s because I honestly don’t know what Jon Jones wants to do next. I think Jon’s going to watch this fight, and he’ll decide."

Featured Image Credit: UFC

Topics: Francis Ngannou, UFC

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a social editor for SPORTbible after moving from the writing team. Nearly scored past Stormzy at Old Trafford once.

@DanMarland_